Investor Day 2022

David M. Foulkes

Chief Executive Officer and Director

David M. Foulkes was appointed Brunswick's chief executive officer and non-independent director in January 2019.

Mr. Foulkes had served as president – Brunswick marine consumer solutions, as well as retaining his role as Brunswick’s chief technology officer (CTO).

In that most recent position, Mr. Foulkes had responsibility for the Brunswick Boat Group, NAUTIC-ON, Brunswick Marine Services, the Brunswick i-JET Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois Research Park, and Brunswick's Advanced Design Methods.

Mr. Foulkes joined Brunswick in 2007 and for ten years he was head of product development at Mercury Marine, during which time he led the development of Mercury's line-up of market-leading outboard engines, including the recently introduced V-6 and V-8 outboard engines and advanced vessel controls, as well as the new MerCruiser gasoline and diesel inboard/sterndrive engines.

Since 2012, Mr. Foulkes also has had responsibility for Mercury Racing, and for the past five years worked closely with the Mercury Racing leadership team to significantly grow the business and introduce an unprecedented range of new high-performance Racing outboard and sterndrive products.

In his role as Brunswick’s CTO, Mr. Foulkes has overseen the launch of NAUTIC-ON and Brunswick's i-JET Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois. He also championed the effort to form Brunswick's joint-venture with TechNexus to develop a portfolio of investments in start-up companies, and a separate effort to introduce a new Design Thinking initiative to the Company.

Previously, Mr. Foulkes had spent 18 years with Ford Motor Company in a series of assignments of progressing responsibilities. He previously had also worked with Shell Exploration and the Ministry of Defense, both in the United Kingdom. He has a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and a master’s degree in structural and fluid mechanics from Imperial College in London. Mr. Foulkes serves as a trustee for Shedd Aquarium and is a Director on the Board of Vontier.

Ryan M. Gwillim

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Ryan M. Gwillim serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. He most recently was vice president – finance and treasurer, assuming those duties in June 2019.  Since September 2017, Mr. Gwillim had been vice president – investor relations.

Mr. Gwillim joined Brunswick’s legal team as corporate counsel in 2011 and became assistant general counsel – corporate and securities, where he was responsible for the Company’s SEC compliance and financial reporting processes, a year later. He was named associate general counsel - international in 2015.

Mr. Gwillim, who is also a certified public accountant, attended the University of Illinois, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting as well as his law degree. Before joining Brunswick, Mr. Gwillim was with Baker & McKenzie in Chicago as an associate in their corporate and securities practice group.

Lauren E. Beckstedt

Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer

Lauren E. Beckstedt was named vice president - chief marketing officer for Brunswick Corporation in September 2021, overseeing marketing efforts across the Company’s portfolio of global brands.

Ms. Beckstedt is most notably recognized for her leadership in digital transformation across a portfolio of 50+ brands, with experience in B2B, B2C and dual-distribution models. She also transformed the Company’s marketing operating model and organizational structure to deliver stronger brand discipline and establish new capabilities in consumer insights, digital product management and marketing analytics.

Ms. Beckstedt joined the Company in 2010 through the former Brunswick division Life Fitness, where she served in several roles of increasing responsibility, including director of marketing and strategy. She later held internal roles within the Company’s talent management and employment brand functions before moving into chief marketing officer roles across Brunswick’s consumer brands and enterprise services.

Ms. Beckstedt holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. In 2021, she was recognized by Boating Industry Magazine as a “Top 40 Under 40” award recipient and also earned the publication’s “Women Making Waves” award.

Chris D. Drees

Former Executive Vice President and President, Mercury Marine

Chris D. Drees

Former Executive Vice President and President, Mercury Marine

Brett A. Dibkey

Executive Vice President and President, Navico Group

Brett A. Dibkey serves as executive vice president and president of the Navico Group, a position he has held since January 2020.

Mr. Dibkey joined Brunswick following 12 years at Whirlpool Corporation where he was most recently vice president and general manager, Business Units, Brand Marketing, eCommerce and IoT. At Whirlpool, he had business responsibility for the company’s parts and accessories business along with full P&L responsibilities for a portfolio of strategic, high-growth businesses. In addition, he served as the head of brand marketing across the company’s brand portfolio. Prior to his career at Whirlpool, he worked in a variety of business development and strategic planning roles for Pfizer and Crowe Horwath, LLP.

Mr. Dibkey graduated from Butler University with a degree in finance and accounting and earned his Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

Aine L. Denari

Executive Vice President and President, Brunswick Boat Group

Aine L. Denari serves as executive vice president and president of the Brunswick Boat Group, a position she has held since October 2020.

Ms. Denari joined Brunswick after spending 20 years in a variety of executive positions within the automotive industry, and in leadership positions at major global consulting firms. From 2014-2020, Ms. Denari worked at ZF  AG in a variety of roles, including the final 3 years as SVP leading the ADAS (advanced driver assist systems) business, a $1B+ segment within Global Electronics. In her current role, she is responsible for the largest boat portfolio in the recreational marine industry with many of the leading U.S. and international brands.

Ms. Denari has a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Detroit Mercy and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. In addition, Ms. Denari has a bachelor's degree from University College in Dublin, Ireland. Ms. Denari serves as a non-executive Board Director of Masco Corporation, NMMA Executive Board and a Member of a Technical Advisory Committee for Gentherm.

Brenna D. Preisser

Executive Vice President, President, Business Acceleration

Brenna Preisser is the Executive Vice President, President, Business Acceleration – a division of Brunswick focused on expanding marine participation through boater services and shared access models. 

Ms. Preisser leads a portfolio of businesses including Freedom Boat Club - the largest national boat club operation in the industry, financial services, and new ventures such as Boateka, a direct-to-consumer pre-owned boat refurbishment and sales business and All Blue Planet, an enterprise social sustainability initiative to extend recreational water access.  In 2022, Business Acceleration acquired J&R Marine, enhancing its portfolio of boater services with the addition of several marinas and dealerships in the southeast.

In her capacity as strategy officer, Ms. Preisser leads business transformation which includes identifying new growth laneways and platforms for business model innovation.  

Since joining the company in 2004, Ms. Preisser has been in charge of reforming company culture and evolving the business operating model.  She was elected Brunswick’s vice president and chief human resources officer effective March 31, 2016 through December 7, 2021 where she established Brunswick as a Forbes best place to work company.  

Ms. Preisser has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ohio University in Athens, and a Masters of Business Administration from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio.